Outlet-box



H. KRANTZ.

OUTLET BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 196.

1,305,61 1 Patented J une 3, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. KHANTZ.

OUTLET BOX.

AAPPLICATION FILED MAY4,1916.

Patented J 111163, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nue 1Mo/z UNITED STATES PATENT oEErcE.

`HUBERT KRANTZ, F NEW YORK, N. Y.,'ASSIGNOR TO KRLN TZ MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

OUTLET-BOX.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 3, 1919.

Application led May 4, 1916. Serial No. 95,402.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HUBERT KRANTZ, a

vcitizen of the United States, residing at more particularly'to boxes employed in connection with the electric wiring of buildings or the like;

The object of the invention is to provide a box of improved construction, which is simple and eicient, to be set on or into a floor, wall, ceiling, or the like, to serve as a container for devices employed to effect electrical connection from the wiring of the building to fans, lights, machines, telephones or other apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a box of the character referred to in which the electrical connection with the supply mains is automatically controlled by the insertion in or the removal from the box of the tap connection or plug.

Further objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a .box embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2, 2, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows, the plug being shown inserted and the switch closed.

Fig. 3 is 'a similar View showing the plug removed and the switch open.

Fig. 4 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 4, 4, Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows, the plug bein removed.

ig. 5 is a view in sideelevation of a plug adapted and positioned to be inserted in the box shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. is a view similar to Fig. l showing a modified structure, wherein the switch contacts directly on the plug.

Fig. `7 is a sectional View taken on the line 7, 7, Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a similar view taken on the line 8, s, Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a broken sectional 'view of a modified structure.

Fig. l0 is a similar view showing the switch closed.

Fig. l1 is a sectional view taken on the line 1l, 11 Fig. 9.-

,The same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In the drawing 6 designates generally the box body, Which-may be of any suitable shape, form or material.' This box is to be placed in a fioor, wall or ceiling, of a building and the electric conductors carried in conduits, not shown, for the building,-

which are installed in the walls, floors and ceilings, are brought into the boxes and are secured to terminals 7, 8, suitably carried by an insulation strip 9, which in turn is secured t0 the box 6 in any suitable manner, such, for example, as by screws 10 and angle plates 11. installed at points where connections are to be made inside a room or other compartment, to an electric light fixture, lamp socket, motor, fan or the like, from wiring zipcealed in the door, Wall, ceiling or the Also secured toA insulation strip 9 and passing therethrough, are conducting members 12, 18, spaced apart as shown best in Fig. 4. The insulation strip 9 is provided with a cutaway portion 14, which together with the supporting plate l5, secured Within-the box as best shown in Fig. 1, and the plate 16, also securedrwithin the box forms a seat or socket adapted t0 receive the plug 17, containing the usual wires 18, for connection with the light, fan, motor, or the like, to which it is desired to conduct the electric current from the mains. The seat or socket for receiving the plug 17 may of course be formed in many other -specifically different ways. I do not desire, therefore,

. to be limited or restricted in this respect to the specific structure shown. rIfhe plug may be of any desired material, preferably of insulation, and the wires 18 are respectively connected to contact surfaces 19, 20, adapted to be brought into electrical contact with the respective conducting bars 12', 13, when Ordinarily the boxes are.

the plug is inserted fully home in its socket in the box. The plug is pro-vided with a longitudinally extending diagonal slot 25a, the purpose of which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

Suitably secured to the insulation strip 9 is a base strip 40, on which is slidably mounted a switch support 21, upon the ends of whichA are suitably supported preferably by insulation blocks 22, 23, conducting switch members 24, 25, respectively, which conducting members are adapted to establish electrical connection between the conductors 7, 12, and 13, 8, simultaneously when the sliding support 21, is moved in one direction, and to break such connection when the support is moved in the opposite direction.

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to automatically control the making and breaking of electrical connection between the conducting elements 7, 12, and 13, 8, by the insertion and 'withdrawal of the plug 17, and, in addition, to secure strong positive action of the conductors 24, 25, in their contact making land breaking movement, whereby a quick break and a quick makef" switch action kis secured. For this purpose I employ an arm or rod 30, pivotallysecured intermediate its ends to the insulation strip 9, one end of which rod or arm projects through the insulation strip 9 as best shown in Fig.

4. The other end of the rod 30 is pivotallyA connected to an arm or rod 31, which is slidably journaled in a collar 32 pivotally mounted on the support 21. A coiled spring 33 is mounted on the arm or'rod 31, as shown. and is positioned between the collar 32 and the pivoted connection with the rod 30. Thus it will beseen that if the rod 30 is rocked, say downward from the position shown in Fig 4,'and about its pivotal connection with the insulation strip 9, the rod 31, and collar 32, are rocked in the opposite direction and at the same time the rod 31 is forced longitudinally through the collar 32, against the action of the coil spring 33,

which latter is thereby compressed. Whenl the rods 30 and v31 are in straight line position relative to each other, a dead center has been reached, and upon further rocking movement of theV rod 30, the dead center position is passed, and the compressed spring then acts to instantly throwv the respective arms 30, 31, to their farthest position thereby securing a very quick movement of the switch elements 24, 25, and insuring a permanent contact or break without the possibility of accidental completion of the circuit or of the breaking of the circuit. will be seen that when the plug 17 is inserted' in the box, the end of the pivoted arm 30 will engage in the diagonal slot 25a in the plug, and the further movement of Thus it vthe plug will cause the arm .30 to be rocked by said slot, thus closing the switch members 24, 25, and their respective contacts 7, 12, and 13, 8, as shown in Fig. 2. Likewise, ywhen t-he plug is removed, the movement of the slot 25"1 will cause the arm 30 to rock about its pivot in the opposite direction' past its dead outer position and the sliding support 21 and the switch elements 24, 25, will move positively in to the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby breaking the electrical connection between the respectiveterminals or conducting elements 7, 12, and 13, 8. Further,- it will be noted, that when the plug is fully inserted in its socket and in'consei quence the switch elements are inthe posi- `l minal or terminals, as the case may be, di-

rectly with the plugy contact or contacts. In thls arrangement, I mount a switch on the insulation 40, the 'blades 41 of which are adapted when closed to establish elec- ,f trical connection between the main line ter-.`

minals 42, which are also carried by the insulation strip, and the contact surfaces 19-20 of the plug. In this arrangement,

the plug 17 is provided with a straight slot 43, therethrough. Projecting into the slot 43, to a substantial distance but not entirely across 'said slot is a lug 44. The switch is in its open position, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6, when the plug is removed, with the controlling arm 30 extending in an upwardly direction as indicated. When the plug is inserted, the lug 44, not extending entirely across the slot passes bythe arm 30, and the body of the plug at the upper Iend of the slot forces the arm 30 downwardly to actuate the switch and cause the blade 41 thereof to assume the position indicated in full lines. When the plugI is removed, the lug 44, engages the arm 30, causling the same to move upwardly and to consequently operate the switch to cause the blades thereof to assume open position, as

shown ,in dotted lines in'Fig. 6, and as will be readily understood.

It will be understood that my invention in its broad scope, is not to be limited to any type of switch, as it -isobvious that many different types of switches may be readily employed, and therefore while I have diagrammatically illustrated the specie type of switch shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 42,956, filed July 31, 1915, and I am not to be limited thereto.

It will also be understood that while I have shown and described my invention as applied to double switches, positive and negative terminals and plug contacts I' am not to be limited thereto as a single terminal, switch and contact arrangement will fall squarely within the scopeof my invention as defined in the claims, and while I have mentioned throughout the specification a switch, it is obvious I contemplate including thereby any conducting element adapted to bridge two or more separated contacts or terminals.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 1l, I show a modified structure for accomplishing the purposes of my invention wherein the switch is carried by the plug itself. In this arrangement I provide the plug with a cutaway portion 50, and mount therein the switch 51, whichv in this instance is a bell crank lever pivotally mounted upon the plug at one end as shown at 52. The plug carries the vcontact surface 53 also within the cutaway portion, as shown. The insulation 54, which forms part of the socket to receive the removable plug 17 is rounded away to form an opening into the socket. The line terminal 42 is suitably carried by the insulation, and spaced away from the socket. A projecting lug 44 is in this instance carried'by the socket plate 15 to project into the socket, and that portion thereof that lies within the path of travel of the cutaway portion 50 of the plug.

The operation of the device is simple. When the plug is about to be inserted in Ithe socket, the switch member 51 is in the position shown in Fi 9. Upon the downward travel of the p ug in the socket, the rounded end of the switch will come in contact with the lug 44, thereby causing the switch to swing about its pivot 52, causing it to assume the position shown in Fig. 10, and thereby establishing electrical connection between the contact 53, and the terminal 42, as shown. Upon the withdrawal of the plug the rounded surface of the insulation strip 54 will cause the switch member 51 to be rocked downwardly to break the electrical connection between the contact and the terminal, and the switch member will again assume the position indicated in Fig. 9.

- Any vsuitable means may be employed to normally maintain the switch when open in the position shown in Fig. 9. That is to prevent the switch from rocking downwardly beyond the position shown, I show a simple arrangement wherein I provide a stop pin 56 upon which the switch rests, as shown best in Fig. 9, and which limits the movement of the switch in its open direction. While I have shown in the foregoin modication but a single switch device,

wish it to be understood that a duplication of the same, that is, a two switch plug is to be included in the scope of my invention.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an exceedingly simple, eficient and safe box the electrical outlet of which vis automatically controlled by the insertion or withdrawal of the plug. This type of box is particularly valuable in its feature of safety, as it will be readily understood that contact with the live parts of the same, to receive an electric shock is impossible even when the top or cover of the box is removed as the near parts are alive only -when the plug is inserted, and become dead when thebox is open and the plug is removed.

I do not claim herein the structure of switch device, as the details of structure thereof do not constitute my present invention, the broad and dominating feature of which is a removable plug, the insertion or removal of which operates to close and open a switch to complete circuit connection from one or more contacts to the plug.

While I have shown and described in detail specific structures embodying my invention, I wish it to be understood that in its broad scope I am not to be limited thereto, or to any specific detail thereof, as it is obvious that those skilled in the art will readily conceive various changes in form and detail without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope thereof as defined in the claims.

Therefore, what I claim as new and useful, and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a box havingv an electrical terminal therein of a plug adapted to be inserted in said bo-x and having a terminal, a switch for establishing electrical connection between said box terminal and said plug terminal by bearing directly against said terminals, and means operated by the insertion or withdrawal of said plug for operating said switch.

2. An outlet boX having a main line terminal and a switch therein in combination with a removable member carrying a branch line contact, said switch adapted to bridge said terminal and contact by bearing di rectly against said terminals, and means operated by the movement of said member into and out of operative position for controlling said switch.

3. An outlet box having a main line terminalandaswitch therein, in combination with a removable member carrying a branch line contact, said switch adapted to bridge said terminal and contact by bearing directly against said terminals when said member 1s in said box, and means operated by the movement of said member into operative position for closing said switch.

-said terminal and Contact by bearing rectly against said'terminals, said plug havin means to engage said member to control said switch by the insert-ion and removal of the plug into and out of position for use.

6. An outlet box, a support arranged therein, an insulated line circuit terminal carried by said support, and a removable plug carrying a branch line contact, a bridging member for the terminal and contact, a movable arm to operate said bridging member, said plug havinga slot to engage and operate said arm.

7. A11 outlet box havin a main line terminal and a pivoted mem er having a movable arm to rock the same, in. combination with a plug'having a branch line contact, said plughaving a slot to engage said arm to operate said member in one dlrection to esto operate said member in one direction to a establish electrical connection between said terminal and contact by the insertion of the plug, and means carried in said slot for operating said member in the opposite direction to break said electrical connection upon. the withdrawal of the plu 9. An outlet box havlng an insulated support arranged therein, a l1ne circuit terminal carried by said support in combination with a removable plug and a branch line contact carried thereby, a switch carried by said support and adapted to bridge the terminal and contact said plug operating when inserted in said box to shift said switch in one direction and when moved from said box to shift said switch in the opposite direction.

In'testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 21st day of April, A. D.

1916. HUBERT KRANTZ. 

